Urban livestock keeping has remained one of the key urban livelihoods in spite of the negative environmental consequences it causes to urban dwellers. Livestock cause waste heaps, noise, bad odour, dust, destruction of infrastructure and health hazards often leading to conflict. The idea that certain types of livestock cause more serious environmental consequences than others is not straightforward. A study was conducted in two municipalities of Dodoma and Morogoro, examining the effects of livestock keeping on the environment and on the community. Primary data were collected at household level through interviews and focused group discussion. Secondary data were collected through documentary review on environmental pollution and conflict due urban livestock keeping which were obtained from Municipal Offices, libraries and internet. Using a sample of 298 respondents, The chi-square test of association between keeping livestock and environmental pollution and social conflict rejected the null hypothesis of independence at 5% level of significance on almost all pollution variables for different types of livestock, implying that keeping livestock could result into noise, heaps of waste, odour, dust, plant destruction and social conflict. The only areas where the Chi-square test failed to reject null hypothesis of independence were between keeping sheep and noise, odour, and social conflict (at P ≥ 0.05 ); and between poultry and noise (P ≥ 0.05) and between all types of livestock and dust (at P ≥ 0.05 ); . The conclusion was that environmental effects of urban livestock keeping are demonstrated by all types of livestock at varying degrees. Livestock keeping of any type in urban areas has, therefore, negative environmental and health consequences when there is weak enforcement of relevant bylaws.

Fuller R (2003). Livestock and the Livelihoods of the Poor: A Background Document research paper.. Livestock Development Group, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading. Berkshire, UK.